Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust advice as six day resident doctors strike begins today
“The NHS is here for you” says senior doctor as resident doctors begin industrial action today.
The NHS in the North West is urging people to use services wisely during the latest period of industrial action by resident doctors starting today for six days.
The strike will official end in Blackpool and the Fylde coast at 7am on Monday, April 13.
The action, which will affect hospitals and urgent care settings is expected to place additional pressure on services already managing high seasonal demand. Emergency care will remain available, but patients may experience longer waits for non-urgent issues.
During these strikes, all other NHS staff (including consultants and other specialist doctors) will still be working, and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely.
A spokesman from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust urged patients to attend pre-booked appointments.
He said: “During the strikes, there may be fewer doctors working than usual, and they will need to prioritise life-saving care. Less urgent cases may experience longer waits during strikes.
“While we will do our best to only cancel appointments where it is necessary, we know from previous strikes that there may be disruption. If the NHS has not contacted you, please attend your appointment as planned.
“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and serious life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the North West, thanked the public for their continued support.
He said: “We know the NHS is always busy, especially after a bank holiday and this period of industrial action will create additional challenges for us.
“During this time, it’s crucial that the public continue to come forward for care and know how they can access NHS services when needed.
“It’s important that people use NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) as their first port of call for all non-urgent health needs, as well as use their local GP practice and community pharmacies as usual.
“Urgent and emergency care services remain open during the industrial action period and people should call 999 or attend the accident and emergency department in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.”
Industrial action causes significant disruption, but the NHS is preparing as much as possible to put plans in place to manage this disruption, but there may be fewer doctors working during this time who will have to prioritise lifesaving care.
Dr Gregory added: “People should attend appointments as planned, the NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action.
“I’d like to thank the public for their continued support and our NHS staff who are going above and beyond to maintain safe patient services during this challenging period.”
NHS staff are working incredibly hard to ensure patients who are clinically fit and well enough to go home can be discharged from hospital as soon as possible, to help them recover quicker and to free up beds for other patients needing care. People are being encouraged to take steps to help get their loved one’s home.
The public can play their part during industrial action by looking after themselves and loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
For more strike advice from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust visit the website here.